Source: CIFFA

Merchant vessels calling at Haifa and Ashdod, Israel’s main commercial seaports, face serious delays due to longshore labour walkouts. Stevedores at the state-run ports are protesting the impending arrival of competition from nearby private terminals.

Longshore members of Histadrut (the General Federation of Labour in Israel) walked out at Ashdod and Haifa on May 9 in protest of plans for the port concessions. Shortly thereafter, Israel’s National Labour Court ruled that these union employees would have to return to work, and it ordered that union leaders must appear in court to discuss the labour action.

As of May 10, more than 40 ships were held up due to the strike, port spokesmen told Reuters.

Delmar will continue to monitor the situation, and handle ocean freight cargo movements as events allow, however due to the abovementioned work disruption delays can be expected.